A convicted Nigerian national was further remanded to prison while another man was released on $300,000 bail after they were both charged with attempting to defraud a woman through the delivery of an overseas package.
Matthew Ejike Nwachukwu, 37, of Duncan Street, Kitty and Dwayne Frank, 30, a firearm of Tabatinga, Central Rupununi, Lethem, appeared before Magistrate Alisha George at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Court.
They were charged with seven counts of conspiracy to commit a felony. The charges were laid by the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU).
Both accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Nwachukwu is currently serving 24 months of imprisonment on a similar charge. He is said to be one of the mastermind of the alleged romance scheme.
Nwachukwu was further remanded to prison while Frank was placed on a sum of $300,000 bail.
The matters were adjourned to August 09 for reports and fixture.
In a press statement, SOCU said a series of investigations were ongoing into romance/package delivery scams, allegedly masterminded by Nigerian nationals.
And coming out of the investigations, SOCU said it was revealed that the accused conspired with other persons who befriended the victim through WhatsApp and formed a relationship with her.
“Her (victim) lover called her via WhatsApp and told her that he sent an expensive package with surprises for her. She received a call from someone who claimed that he was working at the Airport in New York and the person informed her that her package has arrived in Guyana and someone will call her to pay the customs fees,” SOCU explained.
Later, SOCU added that the victim received a call from a male who told her that she needs to pay customs fees to clear the package as it contained cash and expensive items.
“The person gave her (victim) the names and identification particulars of several Guyanese Nationals who were used as money mules in the scheme, for her to send the money via the Post Office Corporation in their names,” SOCU noted.
According to SOCU, the victim sent a total of $1,030,000 via the Post Office Money Order on seven occasions.
Afterwards, the money were collected by the accused and handed over to Frank who allegedly worked with Nwachukwu in the scheme.
SOCU said Frank kept a portion of the money for himself and handed over the remainder to Matthew.
Based on the investigations the accused were charged.
Just last week, four persons were charged by SOCU and placed on bail for defrauding a number of women.
A day after, another man faced a similar charge.
They are all suspected to be part of the alleged romance scheme.
